Happy Tuesday, Newsies! Today’s GNR may be a little shorter and rougher around the edges due to my late arrival last night after a Florence-related road trip. I’ll probably miss a lot of good news, so please feel free to add items in comments.
Election Polling News
Great news for gubernatorial races — several Cook ratings have shifted in a blue direction. As I mentioned last week, the possibility of several governor’s seats flipping from red to blue this election is a somewhat underreported significant shift. There has been a quiet movement in the Republican party for years to gain enough governorships to call a constitutional convention and rewrite the constitution. Scary stuff and possibly a fringe idea that was going nowhere, but I for one consider it very good news indeed that it looks like we won’t have to find out! September Governor’s Overview, Cooks Political Report.
This was always going to be a tough cycle for Republicans given that they hold 33 governorships. But, mid-term trends and Trump’s waning popularity even in Republican-leaning states has made this cycle all the more difficult. The best Republicans can likely hope for is a net loss of four or five seats. A strong case can be made that they can lose as many as eight seats. Anything over eight seats would indicate a wave of tsunami proportions.
The chances of a Democratic upset of the balance of power in the US Senate seem to have increased again slightly. For example, Monday’s polls showed that Tennessee’s popular former governor Phil Bredesen is leading in opinion polls over Republican Marsha Blackburn.
CNN poll: Bredesen holds 5-point lead over Blackburn; Lee ahead of Dean, Natalie Allison, Nashville Tennessean, September 17, 2018.
And in Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema is leading her Republican opponent, Martha McSally by 7 points.
CNN Polls: Democrats hold the upper hand in Arizona, Tennessee Senate races, Jennifer Agiesta, CNN Politics, September 17, 2018.
If Democrats could pull off wins in those two states — and hang onto all of their current Senate seats (a tall order, but possible), then they would win a razor thin majority in the Senate.
A Little Musical Break Seems Apt Right about now
Kreepy Kavanaugh’s MeToo Kryptonite
Obviously, Republicans are still determined to try to force through the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, but once again a woman has put herself in harm’s way to do the right thing and warn the nation of yet another aspect of the “judge”s bad character. Frankly, like many other women today (millions, perhaps?), I’ve struggled with processing the predictable uproar surrounding this story and it does underline the fact that — along with racism and elitism — sexism and misogyny is alive and well in the USA. Will Professor Blasey Ford’s allegation bring down this execrable nominee? I guess we will see, but there is good news in the activity that has surrounded this story:
That dodgy letter of recommendation that Sen. Chuck Grassley produced with astonishing speed a few days ago appears to have been put together some time ago, before Prof. Blasey Ford’s allegations became public. (who among us has 65 friends of the opposite sex who can clearly remember us and vouch for us after 35 years — especially when we did not even attend the same school! Pretty amazing, isn’t it? That’s not shady at all). Two Politico reporters tried to contact the 65 women who supposedly knew Kavanaugh and could vouch for his character but, curiously, they had a lot of difficulty and were unable to speak to most of them. It looks like (at the time of this writing) 5 women character witnesses responded that they stand by their signatures to the letter, while dozens more would not respond at all. Still others were unreachable. Hmm. Could it be that most of these women were contacted weeks or even months ago by GOP operatives and, flattered to be asked to vouch for a SCOTUS nominee, perhaps signed willingly because they actually did not know Brett Kavanaugh well enough to know if he was a rapey creep? And when the word came out about his true character, they did not want to speak to reporters. Hard to know for sure, but it certainly seems possible. (Come on, who the hell has 65 people who remember them that well from a different high school 35 years ago? Nobody, that’s who!)
Kavanaugh 65 supporters only 5 still saying support him, many others did not respond.
Meanwhile, over 200 alumni from Dr. Blasey Ford’s high school have written an open letter of support for her.
Alumnae Of Christine Blasey Ford’s High School Circulate Letter Of Support
“We believe Dr. Blasey Ford and are grateful that she came forward to tell her story,” says a draft letter from alumnae of Holton-Arms, a private girls school in Bethesda, Maryland. “It demands a thorough and independent investigation before the Senate can reasonably vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to a lifetime seat on the nation’s highest court.”
The women also say that what Ford is alleging “is all too consistent with stories we heard and lived while attending Holton. Many of us are survivors ourselves.”
Also, this interesting tidbit came out Monday morning. A SCOTUS nominee hires an attorney? Well, that’s interesting and not at all shady or worrisome! 😏
Kavanaugh hires an attorney
Fun fact: There is no statute of limitations on sexual assault in Maryland.
Kavanaugh spent nearly 9 hours at the White House on Monday, holed up with Don McGahn, who hoped to cap off his tenure as WH counsel by overseeing the installation of Kavanaugh on the SCOTUS. WAPO reporter (And PBS Washington Week host) Robert Costa speculated on twitter Monday night (based on his sources) that there is some concern among Republicans that Kavanaugh may not make it to the Monday hearing that has now been scheduled. More on the day’s happenings: With Trump muted, White House leans on Kavanaugh to defend himself
Also, there have been rumours that another woman (a law clerk) is considering coming forward, so this may not be the last report of creepy and even criminal behavior by Kavanaugh. These credible allegations combined with his questionable finances, ought to spell finis for this nomination. But interestingly, the WH and the Republicans seem almost desperate to confirm this guy. Kinda makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Why do they need this particular guy on the highest court in the land? (yegods, I despise Republicans and their evil, vicious strain of “conservatism”). Whatever the case may be, this nomination is in trouble and, although the majority may succeed in confirming this assh*le if he makes it to the end, it won’t be without a fight from Democrats — and women all over the country will be taking note.
Creepy Cruz Campaign’s Cryptonite
“Ted” Cruz sent out mailers begging for donations disguised as SUMMONSes from voters’ counties! WTF? This crap skates the line of legality (according to TX state Rep. Gene Wu, it crosses that line, but as we all know — IOKIYAR — It’s OK if you are a Republican. Or at least “Ted” Cruz believes IOKIYAR). The good news is: it’s probably going to backfire. Campaign cryptonite, so to speak. Because “Ted” Cruz is a sleazy toad and people know it!
Meanwhile, when he is not doing sketchy, borderline-illegal donation-begging, “Ted” has been campaigning for Beto! Haha, no seriously! In the last few weeks, good ol’ “Ted” has made sure his supporters know how cool Beto is, from his skateboarding, to his love of Whataburgers, to his frosty days in a band — “Ted” just can’t hide his envy and (dare I say it?) his crush on Beto!
Ted Cruz and the Texas GOP managed to make Beto O’Rourke look even cooler 😎
So today, “Ted” decided to break out the big gun — and he fired his worst shot across Beto’s bow:
Ted Cruz claims Beto O’Rourke is ‘going to ban barbecue across the state of Texas’😂 LOL
Everyone in Texas knows that Beto is the guy who will bring the BBQ AND the beer and will be great company too. Sorry “Ted”, you just do not know how to play a regular human and it shows, oh it shows. Best climb back into that crypt or wherever you came from.
🎶 Let’s pause for a musical interlude — no reason, really.
Meanwhile From the Schadenfreude File, This Assh*le:
The Carolinas are struggling to get through the devastating floods brought by hurricane Florence last week, and FEMA administrator Brock Long has been focused on defending the Pretender and taking pot shots at Democrats over the pResident’s remarks about the death toll in Puerto Rico after Maria. Way to keep your priorities straight, Brockie!
FEMA Administrator Doesn’t Get Why People Care About the Real Death Toll From Hurricane Maria
It’s understandable that Long doesn’t want his agency to be associated with the grievous loss of life that the George Washington study describes. But his incuriosity at why such a study would be commissioned in the first place, as Puerto Ricans continue to reckon with the catastrophe that upended their home a year ago — and the inadequate government reaction to it — is startling.
Indeed.
Anyhoo, today news came out that — gosh, you just can’t make this shit up! — it looks like Brock Long and some of his staff are in a bit of hot water over using government vehicles for unlawful personal use. Abuse of taxpayer money? Gee, where have we heard this kind of thing before? (care to comment Tom Price, Scott Pruitt... anyone?).
Wall Street Journal: Investigation into FEMA Chief Brock Long referred to prosecutors
A senior administration official had confirmed to CNN on Thursday that there is an ongoing Department of Homeland Security inspector general investigation that includes Long. The investigation includes, but may not be limited to, Long using government vehicles on the taxpayers' dime for his frequent commutes between his home in North Carolina and FEMA headquarters in Washington.
Long has said he will "fully cooperate" in the investigation into his alleged misuse of government resources for travel, an issue that has roiled several former Trump Cabinet secretaries.
According to Politico, which first
reported on the investigation Thursday, one of the government vehicles Long used, a black Suburban, was involved in a wreck, which prompted the inspector general to look into the matter.
Here’s hoping another grifter from the rogues gallery of tRump appointees is going down.
And This Assh*le
There’s a Republican who, for all his evil ways, seems to manage to fly just under the national radar more than seems reasonable, all things considered. I’m talking about Rick Scott of Florida, of course.
This month, with the midterm election preps swinging into high gear, Scott has been on the campaign trail trying to convince Florida voters to promote him from governor of their state to US Senator. He’s out there awkwardly meeting and greeting the masses and sometimes it just doesn’t go as smoothly as he expected. Yesterday, he hightailed it out of Mojos Real Cuban restaurant in Venice when he was confronted by a group of protesters:
‘You coward’: Protesters force Republican Rick Scott out of a restaurant during a campaign stop,
Monday’s embarrassing incident wasn’t the first time Rick Scott ran away from Floridians. On September 9, Scott invited voters to meet him at a Donut shop in Santa Rosa Beach on Florida’s panhandle coast, but when people gathered there, the governor/senatorial candidate didn’t show up! Turns out, the Guv heard that about a dozen protesters were going to be there to protest his signing of a controversial beach access law, so he simply stood the voters up! What a profile in courage!
Rick Scott skips campaign stop and ducks beach access law opponents, Steve Bousquet, Tampa Bay Times, September 9, 2018.
Margie Jordan, chairman of the local Democratic Party, handed out flyers that said: "Rick Scott, we won't forget that you gave away our Walton County beaches."
"I can't believe Rick Scott is scared of a bunch of little old ladies in tennis shoes," said Lynn Nesmith, a local architecture writer who held a hand-lettered "Repeal HB 631" placard. "We're here because we love our beaches."
Others took to social media to express their outrage at Scott's evasive maneuver.
Local Republicans waited for at least 90 minutes before concluding that the governor wouldn't show.
Also This Assh*le
Every few days, I google Julian Assange to see if there has been any news. It was strange how after a flurry of reports that he was going to be booted out of the Equadorean Embassy in London “imminently”, the news about him suddenly went dark. On Monday an odd story surfaced — not current news but a leaked story that explains how Assange wound up in the Equadorean Embassy after some frantic efforts to obtain a visa to flee to Russia. There’s something kind of odd about this story coming to light right now, seemingly out of the blue, after the absence of any news following the drama of the “imminent ouster”. Maybe it is a sign that justice is closing in — or maybe it’s something else. One thing’s for sure, though, it is a story of desperation and cowardice exhibited by an amoral criminal and that qualifies it for the Schadenfreude file!
Update on Closet Boy: Leak reveals Julian Assange plan to escape Britain and flee to Russia
A new leak of internal WikiLeaks files reveals that Julian Assange attempted to flee Britain for Russia as authorities closed in on him.
The founder of site - which revealed secret American documents to the world - wrote to the Russian consulate in London in 2010 in the hopes of gaining a visa to the country.✂️
The letter was leaked to the news agency along with WikiLeaks emails, chat logs, financial records, secretly recorded footage and other documents.
On 30 November 2010, the same day as the letter is dated, Interpol issued a Red Notice seeking Assange's arrest - essentially preventing any relocation to Russia.✂️
Assange skipped bail and has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy since 19 June, 2012.
The letter to the Russian consulate was reportedly drafted on 29 November, the day after WikiLeaks released the first batch of US State Department files.
Go read the whole story because it names people around the globe who were trying to help Assange escape justice. Perhaps it was a strategic leak to point to the international scale of the criminal enterprise, but most of all, this story shines a light on the pathetic wikileaks founder, his delusions of power and his ultimate humiliation, reduced to squatting in another country’s embassy cowering from the law. Serves him bloody well right.
🎶 Time for another musical selection — for no particular reason:
⚡️ Lightning Roundup ⚡️
⚡️ It’s a start: The Senate Just Passed a Sweeping Opioid Bill. It’s Still Not Nearly Enough. Julia Lurie, Mother Jones, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ A helpful technicality: Supreme Court Ruling Means Thousands Of Deportation Cases May Be Tossed Out, Joel Rose, NPR All Things Considered, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ Great news! Appeals court delivers win for clean energy by upholding Illinois’ nuclear subsidy program, Mark Hand, ThinkProgress, September 14, 2018.
⚡️ Mueller has no further use for him: Former Trump aide Michael Flynn ready to be sentenced in Mueller probe, prosecutors say, Tom Winter and Adiel Kaplan, NBC News, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ He’s going down, one way or the other: Democrats Welcome Chris Collins’ Decision To Stay On Ballot, Daniel Marans, Huffington Post, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ Helpful: Christine Blasey Ford’s Timing Isn’t Suspect, It doesn’t matter when assault victims speak up. People will always say they are too late. Dahlia Lithwick, Slate, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ Wonkette’s take 😋: White House Shocked Everyone Calling Brett Kavanaugh Rapey Like That's A BAD Thing,
⚡️ A positive step: Pediatricians group recommends 'affirmative care' for transgender youth, Tim Fitzsimons, NBC News, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ 🔥🔥🔥: CNN’s Anderson Cooper unleashes on Don Jr. for ‘fake news’ conspiracy theories about 2008 photo: ‘Didn’t see him in North Carolina’, Sarah K. Burris, Raw Story, September 17, 2018.
⚡️ PP is popular and people need it: Republicans in swing districts are scared to tell voters the truth about Planned Parenthood, Josh Israel, ThinkProgress, September 17, 2018.
I’d like to nominate the following for oldhippiedude’s Tweet of the Week feature:
Action Roundup
Please don’t forget the families who were forcibly separated by this evil so-called *administration*. Check out oldhippiedude’s action list here.
The ActBlue link is an easy way to contribute to 14 organizations, including the ACLU, who are working to help these families.
Also:
Donate to ActBlue
Donate to Swing Left
Send postcards to voters in other districts
Sign up to go door to door in your district
Sign up to drive people to the polls
Find your local Democratic Party and volunteer!
Plus! Check out Yosef 52's diaries, posted daily, chockerblock full of ideas and information.
And FreewayBlogger
💚 Roundup Winddown 💚
The past week has been tougher than usual for a lot of people. Remember that it’s critical that we all find some way, even a small way, to take some breaks from time to time. Whatever you like to do to relax, do it as often as you can. We are all in this together and we will have each others’ backs so that we can recharge.
This effort to save the country is going to be, as the saying goes, a marathon not a sprint. We’ve got our work cut out for us because (as Hillary ALSO warned us), there really was a “vast right-wing conspiracy” which is rotten to the core and has also wormed its way into the halls of financial, technological and government power, too. There won’t be a quick fix to a long-simmering problem, and we are prepared for the work ahead. Luckily, we are the majority and we will prevail and restore America.
I hope today’s roundup will help revive your hope and determination to go out there and make some good news yourself! Meanwhile, I’d like to send you off with this inspiring musical and spoken word selection: Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait”, performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and narrated by Gregory Peck. The video is a little dark at first (focused on Lincoln’s death) but the music is great and once the narration begins (around 4:15), including Lincoln’s writings — it is worth it.
Enjoy and Happy Tuesday, Newsies!